Credit card wallet and method of making same

ABSTRACT

A multicompartment wallet includes a pair of transversely spaced first panels superimposed on and integrally formed with a backing panel and having depending medial tongues. A set of longitudinally offset superimposed second panels having transverse slits, proximate their lower edges is superimposed on each first panel with the corresponding tongue engaging each slit. The panels have overlapping side tabs heat-sealed to each other. A rear panel underlies the backing panel and is provided with integrally formed front panels overlying the lowermost of the second panels, and side flaps overlying and heat-sealed to the outer side edges of the first, second and front panels. The wallet is produced by jig-positioning a first blank including the front and rear panels, a plurality of preformed scond blanks including the second panels, and a preformed third blank including said first and backing panels, and simultaneously heatsealing and severing the blanks to form and join the various panels.

United States Patent Fenster et al.

[ 1 May 2, 1972 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves [57] ABSTRACT Amulticompartment wallet includes a pair of transversely spaced firstpanels superimposed on and integrally formed with a backing panel andhaving depending medial tongues. A set of longitudinally offsetsuperimposed second panels having transverse slits, proximate theirlower edges is superimposed on each first panel with the correspondingtongue engaging each slit. The panels have overlapping side tabsheat-sealed to each other. A rear panel underlies the backing panel andis provided with integrally formed front panels overlying the lowermostof the second panels, and side flaps overlying and heat-sealed to theouter side edges of the first, second and front panels. The wallet isproduced by jig-positioning a first blank including the front and rearpanels, a plurality of preformed scond blanks including the secondpanels, and a preformed third blank including said first and backingpanels, and simultaneously heat-sealing and severing the blanks to formand join the various panels.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Shoots-Shut l Patented May 1972 CREDIT CARDWALLET AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates generally to improvements in receptacles, and itrelates more particularly to an improved multicompartment wallet or thelike, and to an improved method for producing the same.

With the advent and extensive use of credit cards, it is a commonpractice for one to carry a large number of credit cards about and theseare generally held in a wallet so as to be readily available. Since thecredit card when employed must be inserted into an apparatus fortransferring information therefrom, it must be individually removed fromthe wallet. In the conventional wallet the selection and removal of thedesired credit card from a plurality thereof, and its insertion into thewallet, are awkward, inconvenient and time-consuming procedures. Manytypes and structures of credit card holders and wallets have beenavailable and proposed, but these possess numerous drawbacks anddisadvantages. They are generally expensive, bulky and unattractivedevices of low durability, awkward and inconvenient to use, andotherwise leaving much to be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide an improved receptacle, and an improved method ofproducing the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmulticompartment wallet and an improved method of producing the same.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedwallet for holding a plurality of credit cards and the like, for readyindividual access thereto for selective removal and reinsertion.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmulti-compartment wallet of the above nature, characterized by its lowcost, attractive appearance, high durability, ease and convenience ofuse, versatility and adaptability, and the improved method of producingthe same.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferredembodiment thereof.

' In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of amulticompartment receptacle, comprising a first panel, a

plurality of superimposed longitudinally vertically offset second panelssuperimposed on said first panel, and having transversely extendingopenings formed therein proximate their lower edges, said panels beingjoined at points along their side edges, and a tongue extending from thelower edge of said first panel and engaging said transversely extendingopenings.

The preferred embodiment of the improved receptacle is in the form of awallet, which includes a pair of transversely spaced first panelsoverlying and integrally formed with a backing panel and having medialdepending tongues. A set of longitudinally offset superimposed secondpanels having transverse slits proximate their lower edges issuperimposed on each first panel, a corresponding tongue engaging eachset of slits. The panels have overlapping vertically offset side tabsheat sealed to each other along their coinciding outer edges. A rearpanel underlies the backing panel, and is provided with integrallyformed front panels overlying the lowermost of the second panels andsealed thereto along the upper side edges, and side flaps overlying andheat sealed to the outer side edges of the first, second and frontpanels to make a unitary wallet.

The improved method for producing the improved multicompartment walletcomprises the steps of jig-positioning a first blank including the rearpanel and a pair of transversely spaced front panels; superimposing onthe upper section of the first blank containing the front panels, aplurality of longitudinally offset preformed second blanks, each ofwhich includes a pair of transversely spaced second panels, eachcontaining a transverse slit, and connected at their upper inner cornersby an integral bridge, and provided at their upper outer comers withoutwardly projecting wings; and superimposing on the uppermost secondblank a preformed third blank, including the. backing. panel and secondpanels. The tongues are then inserted through corresponding sets ofslits in the second panels, and the assembly simultaneously heatsealedand severed so as-to form the various panels to their final shapes, andto heat-seal the bridges and wings along vertical lines proximate thesecond panels, and sever those portions of the wings and bridges alonglines proximate the lines of sealing thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preformedblank employed in forming a wallet embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of another preformed blank;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an arrangement of blanks in a positioning jigattendant to the production of the improved wallet according to thepresent method;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 3 and showing aplaten in position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the heat-sealed and shaped blank assembly;

FIG. 6 is an inside perspective view of the finished wallet shown in anopen condition;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,particularly FIGS. 6 to 9 thereof, which illustrate a preferredembodiment of the present invention as applied to a wallet or the like,the improved wallet is generally designated by the reference numeral 10and is formed of thermoplastic, flexible, synthetic organic polymersheet material which is heat-scalable and may be decorated and embossedas desired. Suitable materials are saran, polyvinyl chloride and thelike. Wallet I0 is of general rectangular configuration in its fullyopen condition, and may be folded in the usual manner about its medialvertical axis fo pocketing.

Wallet 10 includes an outer or rear wall 11, and an inner flap 12,substantially the width of and superimposed on the inner face of wall11. Wall 11 and flap I2, are integrally formed along their upper edgesand are further joined by a heat-seal line 13 shortly below their upperedges, with flap 12 extending downwardly to a point intermediate the topand bottom of wall 11. A multipocket front or inner wall assembly 14 issecured along its side and bottom edges to the corresponding edges ofrear wall 11, and delineates therewith a main open-topped pocket 35extending for the full length and width of wallet 10. v

The front wall assembly 14 includes a backing panel I6 having joined toand integrally formed with the upper edge thereof a pair of transverselyspaced first compartment panels 17, which are of substantiallyrectangular configuration, being less than half the width of backingpanel 16 and approximately half the height thereof. Integrally formedwith and depending from the bottom edge of each panel 17 is downwardlyinwardly tapered tongue 18, which extends substantially to the bottomedge of backing panel 16 in assembled position. Superimposed upon eachof the first panels 17 are a plurality of successively equallydownwardly offset, mutually superimposed second panels 19, each being ofrectangular configuration and of a height and width approximate that offirst panel 17.

Tabs and wings 20 and 21 are integrally formed with and projectlaterally from the opposite upper corners of panels 17 and 19,respectively. Wings 20 and 21 are in vertically offset overlappingpositions, and are of a height greater than the vertical ofl'set betweensuccessive panels 19, and less than twice such offset, so that each wingoverlaps only the wing of the next upper panel 20 or 21. It should benoted that the lowermost panels 19 and rear wall 11 are integrallyjoined along their bottom edges. Formed in each of panels 19, except forthe lowermost of these panels, is a transverse slit 15, located slightlyabove the bottom edges of the corresponding panel 19 to provide twotransversely offset sets of slits, with a tongue 18 passing successivelythrough each slit 15 of a respective set from the rear to the front ofeach panel 19, and terminating proximate the bottom of lowermost panel19.

A liner 42 formed of a suitable decorated unitary sheet of flexiblethermoplastic material is folded along a medial longitudinal axis toform front and rear liner panels 22 and 23, respectively; liner panel 23being coextensive with and secured to the front face of backing panel16. A pair of laterally spaced liner panels 22 are provided, theirconfronting vertical edges coinciding with the corresponding edges ofpanels 17 and 19 and being heat-sealed thereto. Panels 22 delineate withpanels 23 a pair of pockets having confronting laterally spaced verticalaccess openings 43.

integrally formed with rear wall 11 are a pair of side flaps 24, whichare folded forwardly and over the outer side borders of panels 17 and19, and are secured thereto by heat-sealing lines 26, which overlie theouter wings 20 and 21 and effect the heat sealing of the wings to eachother and to the corresponding borders of rear wall 11 and to flaps 24.The overlapping sections of the inner wings 20 and 21 are heat-sealed toeach other by a pair of laterally spaced vertical heat seal lines 27. Aline 28 of heat-sealing extends along the lower borders of rear wall 1 1and lowermost panels 19.

The confronting faces of successive panels 19 and the confronting facesof uppermost panel 19 and panel 17 delineate a plurality of verticallyoffset compartments or pockets 30 preferably dimensioned to releasablyslideably receive credit cards of conventional dimensions. Tongues 18extend across the bottoms of these compartments to define stops andlimit the downward movement of the cards positioned therein. Moreover,the upper edges of the pocketed cards are vertically offset to provideeasy selective access to the cards for their ready individual removal.

In producing the improved wallet in accordance with the present process,and referring particularly to FIGS. 1-5, a lower positioning jig 32 isemployed and includes a rectangular base plate 33 located on the bottomplaten of a hydraulic press. A pair of low upright end walls 34 areintegrally formed with the end edges of base plate 33. A horizontalupper platen 36 is supported by the bottom of a piston rod 37 associatedwith the press hydraulic cylinder. A cutting and sealing die 38 ismounted on the under-face of platen 36, and is shaped in the knownmanner to form the shaped and sealed assembly shown in FIG. 5, as willbe hereinafter described. Die 38 is connected to the ungroundedelectrode of a suitably controlled, conventional dielectric heating,high frequency generator, not shown.

The wallet is produced from a bottom rectangular blank 39, a pluralityof preformed compartment blanks 40, a preformed top blank 41, and aliner blank 42. The bottom blank 39 contains rear wall 11, flaps l2 and24, lowermost panels 19, and their respective wings 21. Each blank 40includes a pair of laterally spaced panels 19 having slits 15 formedtherein and provided with tabs projecting outwardly from their upperouter comers containing wings 21, and a bridge 25 connecting their upperinner comers and containing inner wings 21. Blank 41 comprises an upperrectangular section including backing panel 16, a pair of laterallyspaced sections defining panels 17, provided with depending medialtongues 18. Liner 42 includes an upper rectangular section including theliner panels 23 of backing panel 16, and a depending section of lesserwidth than the top section and including liner panels 22.

Bottom blank 39 is laid on jig base 33 with its lower edge abutting theinside face of lower end wall 34. A blank 40 is laid across the uppersection of blank 39 with the lower borders of wings 21 overlapping theupper border of blank 39 and being medially disposed thereon with blanksections 19 overlying the upper section of blank 39. A plurality ofblanks 40 are superimposed in longidutinally offset positions with thelower border of wings 21 of a blank 40 overlapping the upper borders ofwings 21 of the next successively lower blank 40, and the slits 15 beingexposed. Blanks 40 are suitably positioned by elements, such as pins(not shown) on jig 32. Blank 41 is then laid on jig 32 with its upperedge abutting theupper inner face of end wall 34, and each tongue 18 ispassed through successively lower slits 15 of respective sets thereof.Tongues 18 may be inserted through slits 15 in a subsequent stage asnoted below. Liner 42 is then superimposed on upper blanks 41 and 40 andextends slightly below the lower edges of lowermost panels 19.

Platen 36 and die 38 are then depressed and the high frequency currentapplied to form the sealed assembly illustrated in FIG. 5. Specially,the upper sections of blank 41 and liner 42 are cut and mutuallyheat-sealed to each other along their upper edges a and upwardlyconverging side edges b, and are sealed to each other along bottom foldline 0 to delineate the lined backing panel 16. The outer borders ofouter wings 21 are trimmed and sealed to each other by verticalheat-sealing lines d, and the borders of inner wings 21 are trimmed andsealed by laterally spaced heat-seal lines 2, which seal the lowersection of liner 42 thereto, and together with upper and lower heat seallines f delineate a generally rectangular opening. Blank 39 is formed byupper and lower heat embossed fold lines 3 and h, and side fold lines Itinto rear wall 11, by outer trim lines 1 into flaps 24, and by foldlines and side and bottom trim lines m and n into flaps 12.

Thereafter flap 12 is folded along line It to overlie the inner face ofwall 11, panel 16 is folded to overlie the inner faces of panels 19, andthe thus folded sections folded into a superimposed condition along foldline 3. Tongue 18 may be inserted through slits 15 at this time. Flaps24 are then folded to embrace the exposed faces of outer wings 21 andare joined thereto by heat-sealing lines 26, and heat-seal lines areapplied to the upper and lower borders of the assembled wallet.

It is clear from the above that the improved wallet is produced inaccordance with the present method in a simple, convenient and economicmanner requiring a minimum of skill and hand labor.

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-compartment receptacle, comprising a first panel, a pluralityof superimposed longitudinally vertically offset second panelssuperimposed on said first panel and having transversely extendingopenings formed therein proximate their lower edges, and a tongueextending from the lower edge of said first panel and engaging saidtransversely extending openings, opposite tabs integrally formed withand projecting transversely from the upper comers of each of said panelsand being of heights less than that of said respective panels, the uppersection of each of said tabs being superimposed on and sealed to thelower section of the corresponding tab of the next successive upperpanel.

2. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said tabs are sealed to each otheralong their outer vertical edges.

3. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein said second panels are similarlyshaped, and said panels and tabs are vertically offset distances betweenone half and the full height of said tabs along the side edges thereof.

4. The receptacle of claim 1, including a backing panel underlying andat least coextensive with said first and second panels and joined alongits upper edge to the upper edge of said first panel.

5. The receptacle of claim 4, including a rear panel underlying saidbacking panel and a front panel joined along its lower edge to the loweredge of said rear panel and superimposed on the lowermost of said secondpanels with its upper edge being downwardly offset relative to the upperedge of said lowermost second panel, and sealed at its upper comers tothe tabs projecting from said lowermost second panel.

6. The receptacle of claim 5, including a side flap extending from aside edge of said rear panel and overlying and sealed to thecorresponding side edges of said tabs and said front panel.

7. The receptacle of claim 1, including a pair of transversely spacedsets of said first and second panels, said second panels being similarlyshaped, and the panels and tabs of each set being vertically ofi'setdistances between one half and the full height of said tabs along theside edges thereof, a backing panel underlying said first and secondpanels and extending between the outer edges of said sets of panels andintegrally fonned along its upper edge with the upper edges of saidfirst panels, a rear panel underlying said backing panel, a pair oftransversely spaced front panels integrally formed along their loweredges with the lower edge of said rear panel and superimposed on thelowermost of said second panels with their upper edges being downwardlyoffset relative to the upper edges of the respective lowermost secondpanel, and side flaps extending from the side edges of said rear paneland overlying and sealed to the side edges of respective outer tabs andthe outer side edges of said front panels.

8. The method of producing the receptacle of claim 1, including thesteps of superimposing a plurality of preformed longitudinally ofi'setthermoplastic partition blanks including said transversely slit secondpanels, provided with laterally projecting wings integrally formed attheir upper edges, superimposing a preformed second blank on theuppermost of said partition blanks, said second blank comprising saidfirst panel and said tongue, and thereafter heat sealing the overlappingsections of said wings to each other along points inwardly offset fromthe outer edges of said wings, and severing the outer portions of saidwings at points outwardly of and proximate the corresponding heatsealing points.

9. The method of producing the receptacle of claim 8 including the stepsof positioning in a lay flat condition a first blank containing saidfront and rear panels and said side flaps, superimposing on said firstblank in longitudinally offset relationships a plurality oflongitudinally offset similar second thermoplastic blanks, eachincluding a pair of transversely spaced second panels provided with saidtransverse openings, and a transversely extending bridge integrallyformed with and joining the upper side edges of said second panels, andwing members integrally formed with and projecting transversely from theupper outer side edges of said second panels, superimposing on theuppermost of said second panels a preformed third thermoplastic blankcomprising said backing panel and a pair of transversely spaceddepending first panels provided with medially depending tongues,inserting each of said tongues through a correspondinglset of saidtransverse slits, simultaneously heat-sealing and securing said blanksto heat-seal respective overlapping bridges and overlapping wings alongvertical lines proximate the side edges of said second panels, severingsaid wings and bridges along lines proximate to and outside said linesof heat-sealing and severing said third blank to form said backingpanel, rear panel and side flaps, folding said backing panel to underliesaid first and second panels, folding said rear panel to underlie saidbacking panel, folding said flaps to overlie the outer side edges ofsaid first, second and front panels, and heat-sealing said flaps to saidfirst, second and front panel outer side edges.

I I I k

1. A multi-compartment receptacle, comprising a first panel, a pluralityof superimposed longitudinally vertically offset second panelssuperimposed on said first panel and having transversely extendingopenings formed therein proximate their lower edges, and a tongueextending from the lower edge of said first panel and engaging saidtransversely extending openings, opposite tabs integrally formed withand projecting transversely from the upper corners of each of saidpanels and being of heights less than that of said respective panels,the upper section of each of said tabs being superimposed on and sealedto the lower section of the corresponding tab of the next successiveupper panel.
 2. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said tabs are sealedto each other along their outer vertical edges.
 3. The receptacle ofclaim 1 wherein said second panels are similarly shaped, and said panelsand tabs are vertically offset distances between one half and the fullheight of said tabs along the side edges thereof.
 4. The receptacle ofclaim 1, including a backing panel underlying and at least coextensivewith said first and second panels and joined along its upper edge to theupper edge of said first panel.
 5. The receptacle of claim 4, includinga rear panel underlying said backing panel and a front panel joinedalong its lower edge to the lower edge of said rear panel andsuperimposed on the lowermost of said second panels with its upper edgebeing downwardly offset relative to the upper edge of said lowermostsecond panel, and sealed at its upper corners to the tabs projectingfrom said lowermost second panel.
 6. The receptacle of claim 5,including a side flap extending from a side edge of said rear panel andoverlying and sealed to the corresponding side edges of said tabs andsaid front panel.
 7. The receptacle of claim 1, including a pair oftransversely spaced sets of said first and second panels, said secondpanels being similarly shaped, and the panels and tabs of each set beingvertically offset distances between one half and the full height of saidtabs along the side edges thereof, a backing panel underlying said firstand second panels and extending between the outer edges of said sets ofpanels and integrally formed along its upper edge with the upper edgesof said first panels, a rear panel underlying said backing panel, a pairof transversely spaced front panels integrally formed along their loweredges with the lower edge of said rear panel and superimposed on thelowermost of said second panels with their upper edges being downwardlyoffset relative to the upper edges of the respective lowermost secondpanel, and side flaps extending from the side edges of said rear paneland overlying and sealed to the side edges of respective outer tabs andthe outer side edges of said front panels.
 8. The method of producingthe receptacle of claim 1, including the steps of superimposing aplurality of preformed longitudinally offset thermoplastic partitionblanks including said transversely slit second panels, provided withlaterally projecting wings integrally formed at their upper edges,superimposing a preformed second blank on the uppermost of saidpartition blanks, said second blank comprising said first panel and saidtongue, and thereafter heat sealing the overlapping sections of saidwings to each other along points inwardly offset from the outer edges ofsaid wings, and severing the outer portions of said wings at pointsoutwardly of and proximate the corresponding heat sealing points.
 9. Themethod of producing the receptacle of claim 8 including the steps ofpositioning in a lay flat condition a first blank containing said frontand rear panels and said side flaps, superimposing on said first blankin longitudinally Offset relationships a plurality of longitudinallyoffset similar second thermoplastic blanks, each including a pair oftransversely spaced second panels provided with said transverseopenings, and a transversely extending bridge integrally formed with andjoining the upper side edges of said second panels, and wing membersintegrally formed with and projecting transversely from the upper outerside edges of said second panels, superimposing on the uppermost of saidsecond panels a preformed third thermoplastic blank comprising saidbacking panel and a pair of transversely spaced depending first panelsprovided with medially depending tongues, inserting each of said tonguesthrough a corresponding set of said transverse slits, simultaneouslyheat-sealing and securing said blanks to heat-seal respectiveoverlapping bridges and overlapping wings along vertical lines proximatethe side edges of said second panels, severing said wings and bridgesalong lines proximate to and outside said lines of heat-sealing andsevering said third blank to form said backing panel, rear panel andside flaps, folding said backing panel to underlie said first and secondpanels, folding said rear panel to underlie said backing panel, foldingsaid flaps to overlie the outer side edges of said first, second andfront panels, and heat-sealing said flaps to said first, second andfront panel outer side edges.